Use of Tertiary Treated Sewage Effluent Sterilized With Ionizing Radiation in Upstream Well Applications

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for using irradiated tertiary treated sewage effluent (TTSE) for use in upstream and downstream well operations are disclosed. In some implementations, the TTSE is treated with ionizing radiation, such as gamma rays or electron beam radiation, in order to sterilize the TTSE. The sterilized TTSE is utilized in a well treatment operation, such as drilling operations, completion operations, pressure maintenance operations, and hydraulic fracturing operations. Sterilization of the TTSE prior to introduction into a well prevents damage to the well, such as fouling of a reservoir or reduction in permeability of the reservoir or both.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using tertiary treated sewage effluent (TTSE) in an upstream well treatment, the method comprising:
 applying ionizing radiation to TTSE; and   using the irradiated TTSE during the course of an upstream well operation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying ionizing radiation to the TTSE comprises applying ionizing radiation to a flow of TTSE. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the irradiated TTSE during the course of an upstream well operation comprises using the irradiated TTSE in an upstream well operation of the group consisting of a drilling operation, a completion operation, a reservoir pressure maintenance operation, and a hydraulic fracturing operation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the irradiated TTSE during the course of an upstream well operation comprises:
 forming a hydraulic fracturing fluid using the irradiated TTSE; and   fracturing a formation using the hydraulic fracturing fluid.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the irradiated TTSE during the course of an upstream well operation comprises:
 forming a drilling mud with the irradiated TTSE; and   pumping the drilling mud into a well during a drilling operation.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ionizing radiation is selected from the group consisting of gamma rays or electron beam radiation. 
     
     
         7 . A computer-implemented method performed by one or more processors for performing an upstream well operation using tertiary treated sewage effluent (TTSE), the method comprising the following operations:
 applying ionizing radiation to TTSE; and   using the irradiated TTSE during the course of an upstream well operation.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein applying ionizing radiation to TTSE comprises applying ionizing radiation to a flow of TTSE. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein using the irradiated TTSE during the course of an upstream well operation comprises using the irradiated TTSE in an upstream well operation of the group consisting of a drilling operation, a completion operation, a reservoir pressure maintenance operation, and a hydraulic fracturing operation. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein using the irradiated TTSE during the course of an upstream well operation comprises:
 forming a hydraulic fracturing fluid using the irradiated TTSE; and   fracturing a formation using the hydraulic fracturing fluid.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein using the irradiated TTSE during the course of an upstream well operation comprises:
 forming a drilling mud with the irradiated TTSE; and   pumping the drilling mud into a well during a drilling operation.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein applying ionizing radiation to TTSE comprises applying gamma rays or electron beam radiation to the TTSE. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for performing an upstream well operation using tertiary treated sewage effluent (TTSE), the apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the one or more processors and storing programming instructions for execution by the one or more processors, the programming instructions instruct the one or more processors to:
 apply ionizing radiation to TTSE; and 
 conduct an upstream well operation using the irradiated TTSE. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the programming instructions to instruct the one or more processors to apply ionizing radiation to TTSE comprise programming instructions to instruct the one or more processors to:
 generate a flow of the TTSE; and   apply ionizing radiation to a flow of TTSE.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the programming instructions to instruct the one or more processors to conduct an upstream well operation using the irradiated TTSE comprise programming instructions to instruct the one or more processors to conduct, using the irradiated TTSE, an upstream well operation of the group consisting of a drilling operation, a completion operation, a reservoir pressure maintenance operation, and a hydraulic fracturing operation. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the programming instructions to instruct the one or more processors to conduct an upstream well operation using the irradiated TTSE comprise programming instructions to instruct the one or more processors to:
 form a hydraulic fracturing fluid using the irradiated TTSE; and   fracture a formation using the hydraulic fracturing fluid.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the programming instructions to instruct the one or more processors to conduct an upstream well operation using the irradiated TTSE comprise programming instructions to instruct the one or more processors to:
 form a drilling mud with the irradiated TTSE; and   pump the drilling mud into a well during a drilling operation.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the ionizing radiation comprises gamma rays or electron beam radiation.